Alias??

[Hugh Thompson]

I keep coming across Alias in my mothers family in Cornwall, and I've read a few articles about ailas's and no one seems to be sure of their exact connotations,but the other day I was looking at an old family tree in the Visitations of Cornwall, and I noticed how the spelling changed through the years.
First in the 1500's it was eg,John Ley of Kempthorne. then later on,John Ley al'as, Kempthorne,then John Ley al's,Kempthorne then later again John Ley alias Kempthorne.
Does anyone actually know the real meaning as Kempthorne doesn't appear to be a place,so was it just to tie in the other family's name. Regards Hugh.:confused:

[ash33au]

Could have been the name of a property or castle opr somewhere they lived

[Hugh Thompson]

No there's more,William Vaudrey alias Ley, Charitie Wattie alias Jenkin and others that I can't think of off the top of my head;)

[Hugh Thompson]

Sorry, Hi Ash.I've also seen the names reversed,John Ley alias Kempthorne and Grace Kemothorne alias Ley..

[ChristineR]

alias usually means another name that they are known by.

Perhaps there were more than one person in the area with the same names, so maybe this was a way of distinguishing between them.

Christine

[Hugh Thompson]

Thanks Christine,not knowing latin I wondered if al'as meant something else like "out of" or from, or something like that.;)

[michaelpipe]

Having looked at the Kempthorne family on British History online, it appears that they were fairly prominent in parts of Cornwall. Perhaps John Ley alias Kempthorne was a family line that issued from a relationship that was not approved, or perhaps illegitimate. He must have been of some standing, as he inherited by some means or other one ninth of the manor of Trefry's:

"The manor of Trefrize or Trefry's was formerly of considerable importance, and extended over several estates in this parish, Lewannick, and Northill. It has been supposed that it belonged to the family of Trefry; if so, it was most probably at a remote period, and a distinct family from that of Treffry in Lanhidrock . We can find no records which describe it as the property of Trefry: the last sole possessor was Sir Henry Trecarrell, of Trecarrell in Lezant; it afterwards became divided among his three coheirs, one of whom was Christopher Harris, of Trecarrell; but his share did not continue long in the Harris family. In 1620 it was divided between Sir Francis Vyvyan, Thomas Kendall, Esq., and John Ley alias Kempthorne" (Extract from Magna Britannia: volume 3).

Michael

[MarkJ]

Kempthorne is a fairly common surname in Cornwall.

No real suggestion regarding the use of "alias", but it is quite common in older records.
I think Michaels suggestion that it could be an unproven family line is one good thought.


Mark

[Hugh Thompson]

Hi Michael, thats interesting, I have George Ley married to Jane Trefuses,grand daughter of Sir Francis Drake.;)

[Guy Etchells]

The use of an alias is very often a pointer to bastardy further up the tree.
The family would use both the mother’s maiden name and the father’s name to ensure that they did not miss out at a later date.
It is not uncommon for such aliases to carry on two or three (or even more) generations.

The other main reason for using an alias normally dies out within the one generation and that is to avoid recognition.
I.E. Someone assumes an alias but is then recognised and the previous name is attached to that person in official records.
The alias in this case does not often pass down the generations.

Cheers
Guy

[AnnB]

This might help you with the Ley/Kempthorne alias. Taken from "Ancient West Country Families" -

'The family of Kempthorne derives its name from an ancient estate in the parish of Clawton, Devon, where it is probable they continued to reside for a considerable period, but eventually, in all probability about the beginning of the fifteenth century, upon failure of male issue of the elder line, the estates passed with the heiress to a younger son of the Leys of Beerferris, who settled at Kempthorne, and in course of time wrote themselves Ley, Ley alias Kempthorne, or Kempthorne alone.'

This is taken from a chapter entitled "Ley alias Kempthorne of Tonacombe". If you would like a copy of the rest, PM me with your e-mail address and I'll scan it and send it to you.

Best wishes
Ann

[Hugh Thompson]

Thanks everyone,|hug|Ash,Christine,
Michael, Mark, Guy and Ann,I think you've covered it all,it's starting to make more sense now. Regards Hugh.;)ps.hello again Mark, and Ann I've PM'd you about the copy.;)